Green Day cancels New Orleans performance

This Sept. 21, file photo released by Clear Channel shows Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day performing at the 2012 iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. Green Day has canceled its upcoming performance in New Orleans. The band was scheduled to headline the Voodoo Music + Arts Experience at City Park on Oct. 27 but a spokesman for the group announced Tuesday the performance was being canceled. The announcement comes less than a month after the band's front man Billie Joe Armstrong headed into treatment for substance abuse.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

NEW ORLEANS -- The Grammy-winning rock band Green Day has canceled its upcoming performance in New Orleans.

The band was scheduled to headline the Voodoo Music + Arts Experience at City Park on Oct. 27.

The announcement, which was posted on the Voodoo festival website, did not include a reason for the cancellation but comes less than a month after the band's frontman, Billie Joe Armstrong, headed into treatment for substance abuse.

Armstrong had a meltdown onstage at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas in September as Green Day was wrapping up its performance during the two-day concert. He profanely complained that the band's time was being cut short and smashed his guitar before leaving the stage. The band later apologized in a statement but canceled other promotional appearances.

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Voodoo was one of the few appearances the band had not canceled, until Tuesday.

"We, like everyone, were looking forward to having Green Day back at Voodoo," said the festival's producer, Stephen Rehage, who added that Green Day's 2004 Voodoo performance was "one of the festival's greatest."

Rehage said he's disappointed by the cancellation but "the health and well-being of Billie Joe is the most important thing right now. We wish him and the entire Green Day family the best and offer them our full support."

Armstrong was hospitalized in early September in Bologna, Italy, for an undisclosed ailment, but recovered well enough to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 6. The band had since made a series of performances, including one on "Good Morning America" on Sept. 15.

Green Day won a Grammy in 1995 for best alternative rock album with "Dookie," which included a number of hit singles including "Longview," "When I Come Around" and "Basket Case."

The band has remained one of rock's top acts and had huge success with its 2004 politically charged album "American Idiot," which went on to become a Broadway musical. Armstrong performed for a stretch in the musical, and he recently served as a mentor on the NBC talent competition "The Voice."

Voodoo is scheduled for Oct. 26-28, and headliners include Neil Young, the Avett Brothers, Justice, Skrillex, Nas and Jack White. The lineup also offers a sampling of Louisiana talent with George Porter Jr., the Lost Bayou Ramblers, Little Freddie King and others.

Voodoo in its 14th year and for the first time this year is offering tent-camping for concert-goers.